The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-12-03

going TO die. I've tried everything reas
enable and unreasonable to break this awful
ague and II can't be broken, I'm gon'
and done for When die, you will fint
money enough In my pockets TO take my
remains back to New York; don't wan
TO be buried In this blasted country. ior
just fix my body up In shape presen'abl'
to my relatives and bury me In New York,
Smith rubbed his hands with glee, and NJ
doubt had already planned how to make
Arthur's such model OF lovliness and
neatness In death, as would astonish the
New Workers! Mr. Lockwood went to his
room, had his customary shakes, fever and
perspiration and medicine, and revolving
his proposed post mortem trip in his mind
was struck with the brilliant idea OF going
10 New York before he died and thus save
the expense of taking him there for burial
and of Smiths professional services! lie
did 80; got there, and so did the ague. He
resolved to die as happy as he could. lie
procured coarse linen or tow suit, a chip
hat, and pole, hook and line and waded
into the sea up to his neck and fished, no,
expecting to catch anything, but he fished
for the sake for fishing! He kept 1t up a
week and the sgue left him In evident dis.
gust, and what is more and better, II has
never troubled him since!
Mr.. Lockwood soon became an active
and useful member OF society, and took a
leading part In the social doings of those
early days. II was thirty odd years ago
and news from abroad was exceedingly
scarce. 1t took the stage coach couple
of days to bring anything from Chicago,
and that young town was then not even on
the verge of civilization, but a remote vii,
lage somewhere on the western shore Of
Lake Michigan, and weeks journey
from Buffalo, which was about on the
boundary line between the east and the
limitless and unknown west Accustomed
TO city ways, Mr.. Lockwood was lost with
out "A New York newspaper; and he sub
scribed for the New York Courier and En-.
quiyer, which publication, after the open
ing of the canal, reached him regularly in
summer, seven days after it was printed
But II was at that date the leading CONNER.
cial and political newspaper of the coun.
try. 1t brought the latest news from the
eastern world, and as Its letters from Eu.
rope, which were month In crossing the
ocean, we're ne,os to the denizens of New
York, Its contents seven days later, when 1t
was opened here, we're still neus to the
Ottawa citizens. This paperIwas as much
for Mr.. LOckwoOd's friends as for himself,
and the politicians flocked daily to his
store to read II, for no other foreign" news
paper was taken In the village. He does
not remember whether the FREE TRADER
and Constitutiondlist borrowed 1t or not.
THE FIRST NEW YEARS CALLS.
Mr.. Lockwood invited and induced Mr..
George Green, u civil engineer on the
canal, a lady's man, to join him In starting
the eastern or Knickerbocker custom of
making New Years calls. About dozen
ladies', In all Mrs. Downey Buchanan,
Mrs. John Hise, Miss Sarah Bacon, (after-
wards Mrs. Easton) Mrs. j. B. Preston, Mrs.
Lorenzo Leland, Mrs. M. II. Swift, Mrs.
j. o. Glover, Mrs. A. Hoes, Mrs. William
Osman, (then lately married) Mrs. Z. l..
Waterman, Mrs. T. l.. Boughton, Mrs.
DIR. Shermerhorn, Mrs. Reddick, Mrs.
Cushman, Mrs. Judge Cotton and sister,
Misses Sarah and Mary Cook, and three or
four Others received visitors on that coca
sion. 1t rained hard all day; they used
Mr. Green's open buggy, (Mr. Lockwood
and X. d. Lyman we're then the only per.
sons In town who were buggy owners) OF
course the cushion got wet-very wet-and
as they kept turning it at every stopping
place, 1t was soon completely saturated
There was not a solitary plank walk or any
other artificial street walk In town, except
a brick one In front of DIR. Howland's resi-
dence In Ottawa Centre, and no gravel on
the streets. The prairie mud was supreme
and alone in its glory. Mr.. l.. carried an
extra pair of boots nicely polished to start
with, and boot. jack. These he carried In
his hand from the buggy to the residence
door where he changed boots, leaving the
muddy ones outside the door until the call
was over, when boots were rechanged and
a mud tramp made to the buggy for the
next call. As these gentlemen had given pre-.
vious notice of their Intentions to the ladies
of the town, all we're at home and ready to
receive them, Mr.. L. thinks they could
not we'll be anywhere else than at home on
such day, with nice newly.ironed dresses
and cordial welcomes. No refreshments
were served, Mr.. L. thinks, anywhere. He
continued TO make New Years calls for
many years, the number increasing annu-
ally as well as callers. The last year that
he INDUCED In this pleasant social custom
he made over ninety separate calls. Since
then the custom has 80 changed, viz: the
custom of many ladies gathering at one
place, and gentlemen calling In droves up